interest groups

Question 1

how do interest groups perform representation function?

Answer 1

citizens have views articulated. they provide channel of easy access through which citizens can voice their opinion. interest groups represent views in all areas branches of government

Question 2

how do interest groups encourage citizen participation?

Answer 2

groups provide opportunities for citizens to participate in decision making process. frequent elections provide greater access for groups. offer chance to participate in specific policy area e.g abortion and gun control

Question 3

how do interest groups promote public education?

Answer 3

interest groups attempt to educate public opinion, warning people of danger of issues if not addressed

Question 4

how do interest groups build agenda?

Answer 4

attempt to influence the agendas of political parties and legislators to give priority to their members interests

Question 5

what is electioneering and endorsement? (methods)

Answer 5

pressure groups make donations to PACs and super PACs. they also actively support or oppose presidential and congressional elections based on policy area.
the league of conservation voters publishes 12 candidates they see as worst on environment

Question 6

which groups supported Donald trump in 2016 election and Hilary Clinton?

Answer 6

national right to life, pro-life group, supported trump and the pro-choice NARAL endorsed Clinton

Question 7

how is lobbying used as method for interest groups?

Answer 7

groups provide accurate and detailed information to legislators.
groups maintain offices in Washington DC and state capitals which allows them to lobby all government.
groups use access points to members of congress to inform them of issues

Question 8

what are voting cues and scorecards?

Answer 8

pressure groups provide legislators with voting cues, democrats may look to the NAACP or Americans for democratic action to provide reassurance on an issue.
conservative republicans may look to the American conservative union (ACU).
groups also publish ratings of congresspeople showing how often they support a cause

Question 9

how do groups organise grassroots activities?

Answer 9

often thought to be most effective method, especially when aimed at congress.
this can include organisation of social media or phone blitz on congress or govt department. groups members often use written or verbal protest. marches and demonstrations where the courts have delivered judgement on controversial issue

Question 10

what was the total federal lobbying revenue in 2016?

Answer 10

estimated $3.1 billion

Question 11

What example is there of a campaign generating significant publicity and pressurising government?

Answer 11

In 2020, the BLM movement coordinated significant support following the murder of George Floyd to pressurise government through marches, protests and media campaigns.

Question 12

what is the process of using legal methods to achieve aims?

Answer 12

interest groups can lead legal action against governments to enforce change. This method can be effective but depends on the attitude of a Court and in society to really initiate any change for a pressure group.

Question 13

what is an example of a group using legal action?

Answer 13

In 1954, the NAACP organised the Brown v Board ruling to desegregate education, while there was also a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s banning of transgender healthcare protections.

Question 14

What example is there of an interest group conducting programme monitoring?

Answer 14

The ACLU asked for a legal challenge against the Trump administration’s travel ban on 7 Muslim countries.

Question 15

What examples are there of pro-life activists participating in agenda-building?

Answer 15

‘Heartbeat bills’ which would restrict abortion availability were lobbied for by Americans United for Life and Faith 2 Action.

Question 16

which pressure groups have campaigned for women rights?

Answer 16

EMILYS list supports female candidates in election process so they can raise money later on in election process.
Raised £600 million for pro choice candidates

Question 17

what role has the NRA played in policy making?

Answer 17

played key role in opposing obamas gun control legislation in 2012, lobbied and funded republicans to vote it down.
played significant role in SC case of Columbia v Heller 2008 which allowed handgun ownership

Question 18

what impact to interest groups have through lobbying congressional committees?

Answer 18

standing committees have significant power to amend legislation and are the greatest access point for groups, since committees are small its easy to build relationship with members

Question 19

what impact does publicising voting records and endorsing candidates have?

Answer 19

at election time they publish voting records of congress members on issues and give them a ranking.
they also endorse supportive incumbents by fund-raising and advertising

Question 20

how do groups try to lobby the executive?

Answer 20

groups maintain strong ties with executive departments, agencies and commissions. especially with regulatory work regarding health and safety, the environment or business.
however regulatory bodies are thought to have too cosy relationship with groups and acting as lapdogs

Question 21

what example is there of pressure groups attempting to lobby legislators over an issue?

Answer 21

in 2016, 1500 pressure groups representing environmental and labour groups, organised joint letter writing campaign urging congress to oppose Trans-Pacific partnership

Question 22

What instance is there of a religiously-minded group representing their case at a standing committee?

Answer 22

The Director of the Christian Legal Society’s religious freedom arm appeared at a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee on religious liberty in the US.

Question 23

what is amicus curiae and is it used to influence the courts?

Answer 23

means ‘friend of the court’ in these interest groups have opportunity to present their views to the court. this method has been used to great effect in recent years

Question 24

what examples are there of pressure groups in the courts?

Answer 24

• in 2005 McCreary v ACLU, the court ruled it unconstitutional to display 10 commandments in courthouse
• NRA role in Columbia v Heller, overturning ban on handguns
• 2017 ACLU Gloucester county school board v G.G fighting for transgender rights

Question 25

what are some of the arguments in favour of interest groups?

Answer 25

• they provide legislators with useful information
• they improve opportunities for people to participate in democracy
• increase levels of accountability for congress and executive
• enhance rights of freedom of speech and association
• increased representation for minorities and between elections

Question 26

How much money was raised to lobby senators to support the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the SC? Why was this?

Answer 26

$10m was raised by pro-Kavanaugh groups to lobby senators to support his nomination, with this occurring as conservatively-minded groups wished to influence the ideological balance of the Supreme Court.

Question 27

what is the revolving door syndrome?

Answer 27

practise in which former members of congress or executive take well paid jobs in lobbying firms, using their expertise and contacts to lobby institution

Question 28

what are the arguments against the revolving door syndrome?

Answer 28

critics argue it is an abuse of public service, people exploit knowledge of contacts to further interest of group clients whilst making large sums of money.
many politicians may favour certain groups in hopes of a job later down the line.

Question 29

what is the iron triangle syndrome?

Answer 29

strong relationships between pressure groups and relevant congressional committees and the relevant governmental department, in which they hope to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Question 30

what is an example of iron triangle syndrome?

Answer 30

the veterans iron triangle. one side being the veterans groups such as Vietnam veterans of America, another side would be the veterans affairs committee and then the other side the department of veterans affairs

Question 31

what questions does the iron triangle raise?

Answer 31

it the iron triangle and pressure groups compatible with a pluralist society where power and resources are in the hand of many. or is it elitist where it is in the hands of the few

Question 32

what are the arguments that pressure groups are unequal?

Answer 32

those on the left criticise groups as competition being unequal, an example in the environment the resources of big business outweigh the resources of environmental protectionists.
the gun control battle is Cleary unequal with the NRA welding much more power

Question 33

what is the criticism that interest groups put special interests above public interest?

Answer 33

pressure groups tend to put the interest of a small group before the interests of society as a whole. for example groups that represent ethnic minorities e.g NAACP spend too much time working towards special interets rebate than wider public. this can also lead to group stereotyping

Question 34

what is the criticism of buying political influence?

Answer 34

Edward Kennedy remarked that ‘you have to pay to play’ as lobbyist act on behalf of business that write legislation for congress

Question 35

what is the criticism of using direct action?

Answer 35

whenever groups use unacceptable levels of violence to pursue political agenda it often tarnishes reputation and view by congress. it has been associated with abortion groups, environmentalists and extreme right.

Question 36

what examples is there of violent direct action?

Answer 36

there were shooting, bombings and murders conducted around abortion clinics by pro-life groups in 1990s
the occupy movement turned violent in some cities
more recently BLM has trodden narrow path between peaceful and violent

Question 37

What is the current membership size of the NRA? How much does it spend on its operations annually?

Answer 37

The NRA currently has 3.7 million members, spending $250m on operations every year.

Question 38

What instances are there of amicus curiae briefs being used in the US?

Answer 38

Amicus curiae briefs were used heavily on the Grutz v Bollinger and Grutter v Bollinger affirmative action cases, brought by those who supported the university’s admission policy. 33 briefs were also used on McDonald v City of Chicago (2010), which continued to uphold gun rights.